Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson traded to... the Yankees

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson traded to... the Yankees

The New York Yankees Wednesday announced that they have acquired infielder Russell Wilson from the Texas Rangers in exchange for future considerations.

Wilson, 29, led the Seattle Seahawks to the 2014 Super Bowl championship, defeating the Denver Broncos, 43-8. At age 25, Wilson became the third-youngest quarterback to lead a team to a Super Bowl victory.

He has played the past six seasons (2012-17) with Seattle. A four-time Pro-Bowler, Wilson has completed 1,815-of-2,834 pass attempts (64.0 percent) for 22,176 yards and 161 touchdowns. He has compiled a career starting record of 65-30-1. In 2017, Wilson led the NFL with 34 touchdown passes.

"We've admired Russell's career from afar for quite some time," Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman said. "This is a unique opportunity for us to learn from an extraordinary athlete who has reached the pinnacle of his profession.

"After talking to a number of our players, there is a genuine excitement in having Russell join us for a short time in camp. We are all looking forward to gaining insight into how he leads teammates toward a common goal, prepares on a daily basis for the rigors of his sport, and navigates the successes and failures of a season."

The Richmond, Va., native was originally selected by the Colorado Rockies in the fourth round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, and was acquired by Texas in the minor league phase of the 2013 Rule 5 Draft. In 2014 and '15, Wilson participated in team workouts at Rangers spring training camp.

In 93 career minor league games between Rookie-level Tri-City (2010) and Single-A Asheville (2011) in Colorado's system, Wilson hit .229/.354/.356 (72-for-315) with 58R, 9 doubles, 8 triples, 5HR, 26RBI and 19SB. In his last 15 games with Asheville in 2011, Wilson hit .302 (16-for-53) with 13R, 5 extra-base hits, 9RBI and 5SB.

A two-sport athlete in college, Wilson graduated from North Carolina State University in 2010. Using his last year of amateur eligibility, Wilson enrolled at the University of Wisconsin and quarterbacked the Badgers to a co-Big Ten Championship and a Rose Bowl appearance following the 2011 season.

Wilson is expected to be in Major League camp in March. While he is in Tampa, Wilson will participate in pregame workouts with the club and watch games from the Yankees' dugout.

Ken Norton Jr. leaving 49ers after just one week for DC job

Ken Norton Jr. leaving 49ers after just one week for DC job

Just one week after Ken Norton Jr. returned to the 49ers, he is reportedly leaving to rejoin Pete Carroll's staff with the Seattle Seahawks.

Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the 49ers have given Norton permission to leave his staff after being named assistant head coach -- defense/inside linebackers last Monday. Norton has accepted a job to return to the Seahawks as defensive coordinator, according to multiple reports.

"Last week, Ken was presented with an opportunity to once again coordinate a defense. Because of how we feel about Ken as a coach, we understand and respect his desire to pursue the position," Shanahan said in a statement provided to NBC Sports Bay Area.

Norton coached Seattle linebackers from 2010 to 2014. He spent 2 1/2 seasons as Raiders defensive coordinator before then-coach Jack Del Rio fired him on Nov. 21. Norton's return to the Seahawks after just one week on the 49ers' staff was first reported by the NFL Network and KING 5 News in Seattle.

Norton sat down with NBC Sports Bay Area last week to discuss his relationship with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and shared his thoughts on young linebacker Reuben Foster. Saleh worked under Norton as a quality control coach during their time together with the Seahawks.

Norton won a Super Bowl as a player with the 49ers in his first season after signing as a free agent in 1994. He won Super Bowls the two previous seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Norton also won a Super Bowl as a member of the Seahawks coaching staff.

Raiders to play in first NFL game at Tottenham Stadium in London

Raiders to play in first NFL game at Tottenham Stadium in London

The Silver and Black given up a home game to play abroad in four of the past five seasons, and will continue to do so until they move to Las Vegas in 2020.

This year’s international game will take place Oct. 14 against the Seattle Seahawks at Tottenham Stadium, the NFL announced on Thursday morning. The Raiders playing a 2018 game in London was a terribly kept secret, one NBC Sports Bay Area’s Greg Papa discussed months ago on The Happy Hour.

They’ve played in Mexico City the past two seasons and weren’t going to three-peat, leaving the United Kingdom as the international destination.

“The Raiders are a truly global brand and we look forward to hosting the first NFL game in Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium,” Raiders owner Mark Davis said in a statement.

The Raiders will play an East Coast game the week prior – they have road games at Baltimore and Miami next year -- and either remain there or spend the practice week in the United Kingdom.

The Raiders played Miami in 2014 at London’s Wembley Stadium in what was Dennis Allen’s last game as head coach.